Hanoi: Young people go to bars 6 times a week to... work

(Dan Tri) - When talking about bars and pubs, many people imagine a noisy space, a place to meet friends or relax. However, nowadays, many young people choose bars to... work or have group meetings.

Work is dead at home, but thriving at the bar

At 6 p.m., Khanh Vy was at a hidden bar (a type of bar with a hard-to-find location) in Hanoi's Old Quarter. The 22-year-old screenwriter was concentrating on her computer screen, with a beautiful drink next to her. According to Khanh Vy, SWIP Speakeasy bar (Hoan Kiem) is where she usually works at least 3-4 times a week, and on peak weeks, she comes to the bar almost every night. "Working at home makes me feel stuck, and my work is also stagnant. There are times when I sit all day without writing a good line. On the contrary, just stepping into the bar makes all the pressure seem to disappear," she shared. Recalling her first time at a bar, she said she was quite hesitant when thinking about going to a bar alone to work. However, right from the first time she tried it, she was immediately conquered by the space here. Khanh Vy said: "The light is a bit dark, the music is soft and the atmosphere is private enough, making me feel like I'm in another world , free to be creative." The young woman usually sits from 6 p.m. to midnight, sometimes extending until the shop closes if inspiration is abundant. "Once, I finished almost half of the script in one evening, something I could never do at home," she excitedly recounted.

Hà Nội: Người trẻ đi bar 6 lần một tuần để... làm việc - 1 — Trung Hieu and Tue Minh have a habit of going to work bars every week.

Not only Khanh Vy, the space in the bar is also quite crowded with young people working hard. Near her table are 2 young customers. The male friend is Tran Trung Hieu (23 years old, Hanoi), currently an English teacher. Hieu shared that working at the bar helps him connect with his emotions and explore himself. Every week, he spends 2 to 3 evenings at a quiet bar or pub to meet deadlines (work deadlines). For Trung Hieu, the bar is not only a place to work but also a place to heal the soul after long tiring days. "I come to the bar early, from 6 pm and usually leave before 9 pm to rest, to avoid affecting the next working day," he said. Sitting next to Trung Hieu, Do Tue Minh (19 years old, student majoring in Graphic Design) is concentrating on a small notebook. Her hands are constantly moving, each sketch appears clearly under the soft yellow light of the bar. "Sometimes we sit next to each other, silently for hours, but I don't feel bored. Just feeling the atmosphere is enough for me to draw new things," she said. However, the couple also admits that the cost of working at a bar will be double or triple the cost of working at a coffee shop, but they consider it a worthy investment. "The reason I choose to work at a bar instead of a coffee shop is because the space, music and drinks are all very different, bringing creative inspiration," Trung Hieu added.

Hà Nội: Người trẻ đi bar 6 lần một tuần để... làm việc - 2 — Many young people think that bar space is sometimes very quiet, private and not boring.

Working at a bar and suddenly being nominated to become... department head

Mr. Pham Thanh Dat, manager of SWIP Speakeasy bar, said that in order to meet the increasing demand of customers coming to work at bars and pubs, the bar has adjusted the space, reduced the music volume in the early evening and launched a "Buy 1 Get 1 Free" promotion program. "The trend of going to bars and pubs to work and meet deadlines has become popular in recent years. Currently, the bar environment is not only a place to relax, but also an environment that helps customers be creative, work more effectively, even make friends and bring job opportunities," Dat shared.

Hà Nội: Người trẻ đi bar 6 lần một tuần để... làm việc - 3 — "Going to the bar after work has become a habit, listening to music and working at the same time. I feel like the bar is almost like a second office," Quan shared.

The case of Tran Minh Quan (27 years old, Hanoi ) is a freelance programmer, often working at bars and also finding job opportunities through this habit. The special thing happened one evening nearly a year ago, when Quan's life suddenly took a new turn. Reminiscing, Quan said that he met his current boss at a time when he was uncertain about his job. While editing a personal project at the bar, a middle-aged man sitting next to him started talking to Quan, asking him about technology and some programming-related errors. From there, the two discovered common ground in technology and finance. The conversation lasted longer than expected, and finally the man suggested cooperation and gave Quan the phone number of the HR staff. Minh Quan said he was quite surprised, but because he had not found a suitable company, he wanted to try. After the interview, he was offered a job as head of information technology with good benefits. "Actually, I worked at bars because I liked the space, music and drinks, but I also found myself quite "strange", because at that time few people worked in a bar or pub environment. I didn't think the opportunity would come when I least expected it, but now I find the cost was completely worth it," Quan humorously confided.

Hà Nội: Người trẻ đi bar 6 lần một tuần để... làm việc - 4 — Ngoc Mai said: "The bar space helps me focus and be more creative, but I only come here when necessary."

Working at a small pub called Twins (Hoan Kiem, Hanoi), Ngoc Mai, 27 years old, a marketing specialist in the advertising industry, has a more realistic view of working at a bar. For her, the cost of 120,000-200,000 VND for a drink just to work is quite high compared to students. "I think spending a lot makes me more serious about my time. If I spend money, I don't want to waste it, so I will try my best to work," Ngoc Mai shared. However, Ngoc Mai said she only goes to the bar to work when she is under too much pressure, because working in a space that is too dark for a long time is not good for her eyesight. She frankly said: "The space in a bar or pub combined with drinks is very inspiring, but you should not stay home late or overdo it if you feel your health is affected."